Citizens Report American Irish Culture

Hibernian Radio Debuts on WSBC 1240AM By Izzy Cusack Local Irish American impresario Mike Houlihan has launched another radio show into the stratosphere of the Chicagoland Irish community and it promises to be a stalwart on the dial for years to come. Kicking off HIBERNIAN RADIO on Saturday January 5th Houlihan told his audience. “I’m… Continue Reading

If you were left wanting more of our virtual slide show – and who wouldn’t be after the cliffhanger ending of Part One at The Court of Two Sisters – here goes: Tom found these mirrored sunglasses at the French Market. He could be in yet another version of CSI in them, a furrier,… Continue Reading

As we seem to vacation well together, Best Fest Buddy Tom and I are thinking of hosting tours. We’ll call our excursions “Get Off the Bus, Take a Picture” in honor of the catch phrase of our bus driver/guide through the Ring of Kerry, who looked a bit like Phil Collins. To get in the… Continue Reading

If your idea of Christmas is squeezing through a packed pub while the jukebox blares, “Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer!”, then I have a delightful surprise for you. It doesn’t have to be that way. There’s a time and place for getting sloshed in a dive bar, but sorry my friend, Christmas is… Continue Reading

It was a little over three years ago that then Irish American Heritage Center President Geno Cooney spotted radio personality and controversial Irish American News columnist Mike Houlihan in a crowded Heritage Center hallway and introduced himself. Houlihan says, “It was a moment of pure serendipity. I’ve been known to ruffle some feathers of certain… Continue Reading

Thirteen hundred years ago, way back in 718, an overwhelming army of blood thirsty Muslims ascended a mountain in Spain to kill and cannibalize the remaining Christians hiding on the Iberian Peninsula. But the Christians, led by a man named Pelayo, implored and prayed to the Blessed Mother, to come down and intercede for them.… Continue Reading

For centuries Irishmen have searched for the antidote to the Guinness scutter. The “scutter” is that old irregular gurgling that usually signals a prelude to explosions in your gut. The Irish call it “the Guinness scutter”. It means spending lots of quality time on the toilet the morning after a night of drinking and partying.… Continue Reading

I went to the Irish Fest at the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago last weekend, and all I brought home was this lousy blog post. Actually, consider this an Instagram-style guide for what to do or look for at just about any Irish fest or outdoor gathering you might attend this or any other… Continue Reading

Danahey on the Loose, watching Bono and the rest of U2 with my dear friend Oprah Memorial Day weekend, I was in Nashville and went to see U2 with a friend who is a big fan of the band and who has moved to that town. She even has a t-shirt that says, “I want… Continue Reading

Danahey on the Loose, rolling along in a golf cart at the Chicago Scots Scottish Festival and Highland Games With all the worrisome things going on in the world it’s easy to get into a funk. Father’s Day weekend, I lucked into a fine antidote for that. Having attended many a Chicago Scots Scottish Festival… Continue Reading